Temporary scaffolding system

ABSTRACT

A scaffolding system in which a platform or wall may be secured to a crosspiece supported by cables near an angled structure or in another difficult location. A platform is secured to the crosspiece horizontally, while a wall is secured vertically. The crosspiece may be an angle iron or pipe, for example. Also disclosed are clamps and clamping arrangements for securing the platform or wall to the crosspiece.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is based upon and claims priority of U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/588,510 filed Jul. 15, 2004,incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a temporary scaffolding system, and moreparticularly to a clamping system for use with the scaffolding system.

2. Related Art

It is difficult to mount conventional temporary scaffolding securely toan angled structure such as an angled or tapered tower or otherstructural member. Either the scaffolding system cannot clamp to anangled structure, or the angled structure may have braces that obstructthe clamping. A structure such as a tower also lacks horizontal surfacesfor providing support.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention avoids these problems by utilizing cables that can be hungeither surrounding or adjacent to an angled structure, therebypermitting a support for a temporary platform to be clamped to thecables.

Another aspect of the invention is a clamp that can be fastened securelyto a cable at a range of angles, providing additional flexibility to thescaffolding system.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description of the invention which refers tothe accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, vertical cables 10 are secured, for exampleby conventional loops 12 and/or shackles 14, to existing horizontalmembers of a structure such as beam 18. The cables 10 are tensioned withturnbuckles 16 or by any other suitable means, to increase the rigidityof the scaffolding system.

The beam 18 is of course capable of supporting a load, but is not in thelocation where a temporary platform is needed. Therefore, as shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, to support a temporary platform where it is needed, anangle iron 20 is secured to a cable 10. Preferably the angle iron 20 issecured to the cable 10 at at least two points on the angle iron 20 asshown. In this example, a pair of conventional Crosby clamps 25 or anyother suitable devices are used to secure the angle iron 20 to the cable10.

Another portion of the angle iron 20, such as an opposite end, issecured to another cable (not shown) so that the angle iron 20 isthereby secured in a horizontal position.

The angle iron 20 supports a temporary work platform 30 such as a plank,extending transversely to the angle iron 20.

A J-bolt 35 extends downward through a hole 32 in the platform 30 toclamp the platform 30 onto the angle-iron 20. The “J” of the J-bolt 35hooks around the angle iron. At the other end of the J-bolt 35, on thetop side of the platform 30, a wing nut 37 along with a washer 38 and aTeflon stop nut 39 complete the clamping arrangement.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an arrangement of four cables 10,two horizontal structural members 40, two angle irons 20, and two planks30 secured to the angle irons to form a temporary work platform.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an example of how the arrangementof FIGS. 1-4 can effectively provide temporary work platforms around andamong the tapered vertical towers as well as other angled and horizontalmembers of a bridge.

FIG. 6 shows a second aspect of the invention, namely a clamp 60 for usein the scaffolding arrangement. The cable 10 is secured by a pair ofCrosby clamps 25A and 25B to a plate 50. The Crosby clamps are securedto the plate by U-bolts 52A and 52B. A pipe clamp 54 is bolted to theother side of the plate. The Crosby clamps permit the clamp 60 to rotateto any position about the cable, giving the clamp increased flexibilityof use.

The pipe clamp 54 is used to hold a pipe or other member (not shown)which serves the same function as the angle iron in the first embodimentof the invention, for supporting a temporary work platform via J-boltsor any other suitable device.

FIGS. 7-10 show a scaffolding arrangement according to anotherembodiment of the invention, in which a supporting pipe may be mounteddirectly to a cable. Four cables 10 are shown. Two pipes 70 are eachsecured to a respective pair of the cables 10 by fasteners such asU-bolts or Crosby clamps 72 and matching nuts 74. The clamps 60 shown inFIG. 6 could optionally be used to secure the pipes to the cables.

The pipes 70 are preferably flattened or crimped as shown at 76, both tofacilitate forming the holes for the fasteners 72 and to improve thegrip between the pipe and the cable 10.

FIG. 8 is a detail view taken in direction “8” in FIG. 7.

A pair of scaffold planks 80 form a temporary work platform. Each plankhas a track 82. The track is better seen in FIG. 9, which is a sectionalview taken in direction “9” in FIG. 7, and FIG. 10, which is a sectionalview taken in direction “10” in FIG. 9. A bolt 84 has a bolt head 86inserted in the track 82. The bolt is secured to the pipe 70 by a J-hook85 which is secured by a wing-out 87 to clamp the pipe 70 against theplank 80.

FIGS. 11-12 show a further aspect of the invention, in which a scaffoldstairway may be mounted to cables. Cables 10 (only two being shown inFIG. 11) have pipes 70 mounted on the cables as shown in FIG. 7. Twoscaffold stairways 90 are supported on the cables 10 by a clampingarrangement shown in detail in FIG. 12.

Specifically, a pipe clamp 92 is attached to the stairway 90 by a methodsuch as welding, or may be integrally formed with the stairway 90. A topclamp half 92A and a bottom clamp half 92B are secured together by bolts94A, 94B to clamp the stairway 90 to the pipe 70.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 13. The cables 10,turnbuckles 16, angle irons 20 and beam 40 are arranged as in FIG. 4 andthe other figures. The angle irons may be attached to the cable withCrosby clamps, for example. However, in this case, metal siding ordecking or another generally flat-shaped material is mounted verticallyto the vertical arms of the angle irons to form a wall. As in thepreceding embodiments, the wall sections may be attached to the angleirons with screws, bolts, j-hooks, etc.

The use in this description of such terms as “pipe,” “clamp,” “plank”and the like is not to be taken as limiting the invention, but rathersuch terms are to be construed to include all modifications, variations,substitutes and equivalents that would be known to those having theordinary level of skill in the art.

Although the present invention has been described in relation toparticular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modificationsand other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art.Therefore, the present invention is not limited by the specificdisclosure herein.

1. A method of providing a temporary platform near a structure,comprising the steps of: securing at least one cable near saidstructure; securing a crosspiece to said cable; and securing saidplatform to said crosspiece.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein saidstructure has angled portions; and further comprising the step ofarranging said cable, crosspiece and platform without weight-bearingcontact with said angled portions.
 3. The method of claim 1, whereinsaid crosspiece is secured directly to said cable.
 4. The method ofclaim 1, wherein said crosspiece is secured to said cable by a clamphaving a first portion secured to said cable and a second portionsecured to said crosspiece.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein saidplatform is comprised in a stairway.
 6. The method of claim 1, whereinsaid platform is provided by a plank.
 7. The method of claim 1, whereinsaid at least one cable comprises a plurality of cables, and saidcrosspiece is secured to at least two of said cables.
 8. A temporaryplatform provided near a structure, comprising in combination: at leastone cable secured near said structure; a crosspiece secured to saidcable; and said platform being secured to said crosspiece.
 9. Theplatform of claim 8, wherein said structure has angled portions; andwherein said cable, crosspiece and platform are arranged out ofweight-bearing contact with said angled portions.
 10. The platform ofclaim 8, wherein said crosspiece is secured directly to said cable. 11.The platform of claim 8, wherein said crosspiece is secured to saidcable by a clamp having a first portion secured to said cable and asecond portion secured to said crosspiece.
 12. The platform of claim 8,wherein said platform is comprised in a stairway.
 13. The platform ofclaim 8, wherein said platform is provided by a plank.
 14. The platformof claim 8, wherein said at least one cable comprises a plurality ofcables, and said crosspiece is secured to at least two of said cables.15. An arrangement for securing a platform to a cable comprising: acrosspiece for supporting the platform; a first fastener for securingthe crosspiece to the cable; a second fastener for securing the platformto the crosspiece.
 16. The arrangement of claim 15, wherein saidcrosspiece is an angle iron having two arms with an angle therebetween,one arm being disposed for supporting said platform, the other armhaving said first fastener for securing the angle iron to the cable; andwherein said second fastener secures said platform to said angle iron.17. The arrangement of claim 15, wherein said second fastener has a hookportion engaging said crosspiece, and a securing portion engaging saidplank.
 18. The arrangement of claim 15, wherein said first fastenercomprises a plate, a cable clamp mounted on one side of the plate, and acrosspiece clamp mounted on the other side of the plate.
 19. Thearrangement of claim 18, wherein said crosspiece is a pipe and saidcrosspiece clamp is a pipe clamp.
 20. The arrangement of claim 15,wherein said crosspiece is a pipe, said first fastener being mounteddirectly to said pipe.
 21. The arrangement of claim 20, wherein saidfirst fastener is mounted to a flattened portion of said pipe.
 22. Thearrangement of claim 15, wherein said platform has a track formedtherein, said second fastener having a portion for engaging said trackfor holding said platform to said crosspiece.
 23. The arrangement ofclaim 22, wherein said second fastener further has a hook portion forengaging said crosspiece.
 24. The platform of claim 8, wherein saidcable extends vertically and said crosspiece extends horizontally. 25.The platform of claim 24, wherein said platform extends horizontally.26. The platform of claim 24, wherein said platform extends vertically.